Keyboard device and personal computer using the same

Abstract

A keyboard device and a personal computer including a housing member made slidable, so that a membrane switch is not slid. Such a structure, designed to make the keyboard device and the personal computer thinner, makes it possible to provide very reliable, cheap, thin keyboard devices and personal computers which allow an electrical circuit in the personal computer and the membrane switch to be easily connected. Accordingly, the keyboard device and the personal computer having the above-described structure overcome the problems produced in conventional keyboard devices and personal computers using conventional keyboard devices. These were made thinner by making the membrane switch slide, which has resulted in a complicated electrical connection between an electrical circuit in the personal computer and the membrane switch, increased costs, and lack of electrical reliability.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A keyboard device, comprising: 
       a supporting plate;  
       a key top raisable and lowerable above the supporting plate;  
       a first lever portion having one end slidably retained by a housing member in accordance with displacement of the housing member and having the other end rotatably retained by the key top at a back side of said key top;  
       a supporting member affixed to and disposed at the supporting plate, the supporting member separated from the housing member;  
       a second lever portion having one end rotatably retained by the supporting member and the other end slidably retained by the key top at the back side of said key top, the other end of the second lever portion being separated from the other end of the first lever portion; and  
       a membrane switch disposed between the housing member and the supporting member, the membrane switch being affixed to the supporting plate;  
       wherein said first lever portion and said second lever portion are combined through a shaft member into the shape of a cross; and  
       wherein the housing member is slidably retained, with the sliding movement of the housing member causing said first lever portion and said second lever portion combined into the shape of a cross to be one of raised and lowered in accordance with a sliding direction of the housing member.  
     
     
       2. A keyboard device according to claim  1 , further comprising a membrane switch operating resilient member provided at a back surface of said key top. 
     
     
       3. A keyboard device according to claim  1 , further comprising a spring member, disposed at the housing member to face the supporting member, to push said one end of said first lever portion. 
     
     
       4. A keyboard device according to claim  2 , further comprising a spring member, disposed at the housing member to face the supporting member, to push said one end of said first lever portion. 
     
     
       5. A keyboard device, comprising: 
       a supporting plate;  
       a key top raisable and lowerable above the supporting plate;  
       a housing member affixed to and disposed at the supporting plate;  
       a first lever portion having one end slidably retained by the housing member and the other end rotatably retained by the key top at a back side of said key top;  
       a supporting member slidably disposed at the supporting plate, the supporting member separated from the housing member;  
       a second lever portion having one end rotatably retained by the supporting member and the other end slidably retained by the key top at the back side of said key top, the other end of the second lever portion being separated from the other end of the first lever portion, the second lever portion slidable in accordance with a displacement of the supporting member; and  
       a membrane switch disposed between the housing member and the supporting member, the membrane switch being affixed to the supporting plate;  
       wherein said first lever portion and said second lever portion are combined through a shaft member into the shape of a cross; and  
       wherein the supporting member is slidably retained, with the sliding movement of the supporting member causing said first lever portion and said second lever portion combined into the shape of a cross to be one of raised and lowered in accordance with a sliding direction of the supporting member.  
     
     
       6. A keyboard device comprising: 
       a keyswitch member including a plurality of key switches, each key switch including:  
       a supporting plate;  
       a key top raisable and lowerable above the supporting plate;  
       a first lever portion having one end slidably retained by a housing member in accordance with displacement of the housing member and having the other end rotatably retained by the key top at a back side of said key top;  
       a supporting member affixed to and disposed at the supporting plate, the supporting member separated from the housing member;  
       a second lever portion having one end rotatably retained by the supporting member and the other end slidably retained by the key top at the back side of said key top, the other end of the second lever portion being separated from the other end of the first lever portion; and  
       a membrane switch disposed between the housing member and the supporting member, the membrane switch being affixed to the supporting plate;  
       wherein said first lever portion and said second lever portion are combined through a shaft member into the shape of a cross; and  
       wherein the housing member is slidably retained, with the sliding movement of the housing member causing said first lever portion and said second lever portion combined into the shape of a cross to be one of raised and lowered in accordance with a sliding direction of the housing member; and  
       wherein the keyboard device further comprises:  
       a rotatable cover with a display device incorporated therein;  
       wherein the housing member slides in response to an opening or closing operation of the cover.  
     
     
       7. A keyboard device comprising: 
       a keyswitch member including a plurality of key switches, each key switch including:  
       a supporting plate;  
       a key top raisable and lowerable above the supporting plate;  
       a housing member affixed to and disposed at the supporting plate;  
       a first lever portion having one end slidably retained by the housing member and the other end rotatably retained by the key top at a back side of said key top;  
       a supporting member slidably disposed at the supporting plate, the supporting member separated from the housing member;  
       a second lever portion having one end rotatably retained by the supporting member and the other end slidably retained by the key top at the back side of said key top, the other end of the second lever portion being separated from the other end of the first lever portion, the second lever portion slidable in accordance with a displacement of the supporting member; and  
       a membrane switch disposed between the housing member and the supporting member, the membrane switch being affixed to the supporting plate;  
       wherein said first lever portion and said second lever portion are combined through a shaft member into the shape of a cross; and  
       wherein the supporting member is slidably retained, with the sliding movement of the supporting member causing said first lever portion and said second lever portion combined into the shape of a cross to be one of raised and lowered in accordance with a sliding direction of the supporting member; and  
       wherein the keyboard device further comprises:  
       a rotatable cover with a display device incorporated therein;  
       wherein the supporting member slides in response to an opening or a closing operation of the cover.  
     
     
       8. A computer comprising: 
       a personal computer; and  
       a keyboard device, comprising:  
       a supporting plate;  
       a key top raisable and lowerable above the supporting plate;  
       a first lever portion having one end slidably retained by a housing member in accordance with displacement of the housing member and having the other end rotatably retained by the key top at a back side of said key top;  
       a supporting member affixed to and disposed at the supporting plate, the supporting member separated from the housing member;  
       a second lever portion having one end rotatably retained by the supporting member and the other end slidably retained by the key top at the back side of said key top, the other end of the second lever portion being separated from the other end of the first lever portion; and  
       a membrane switch disposed between the housing member and the supporting member, the membrane switch being affixed to the supporting plate;  
       wherein said first lever portion and said second lever portion are combined through a shaft member into the shape of a cross; and  
       wherein the housing member is slidably retained, with the sliding movement of the housing member causing said first lever portion and said second lever portion combined into the shape of a cross to be one of raised and lowered in accordance with a sliding direction of the housing member.  
     
     
       9. A personal computer according to claim  8 , further comprising a membrane switch operating resilient member provided at a back surface of said key top. 
     
     
       10. A computer according to claim  8 , further comprising a spring member, disposed at the housing member to face the supporting member, to push said one end of said first lever portion. 
     
     
       11. A computer according to claim  9 , further comprising a spring member, disposed at the housing member to face the supporting member, to push said one end of said first lever portion.